Youth & Family Ministry
| Children and Youth Emergency Form |
It is true that most of a child's faith development happens within the day to day life of their family, and at Trindle Spring we strive to support that. We want to provide experiences and resources for families to grow together in their faith, and to use in their own home. We also think it is imperative to build community through our Youth and Family Ministry offerings. Below you will find a few of the opportunities that happen throughout the year. For questions about our Youth and Family Ministries, you can contact our Youth Directors, Casey & Elaine McMillan.
Elementary Youth Group
The Elementary Youth Group meets once a month for lunch, activities, and Faith Formation. Friends and guests are always welcome to join us.
Middle/High School Youth Group
The Middle/High School Youth group gathers at once a month at the church to enjoy dinner together followed by team building, devotions, games, and faith formation activities. They generally have a second event each month outside the church. This might be a fellowship event like bowling or ice skating, a service project, or a retreat. Guests are always welcome.
Harrisburg Area Confirmation Camp
Each summer we join with other congregations from around the region for a week at Camp Nawakwa. Confirmation Camp is for youth in 6th - 11th grade. We spend the week exploring scripture, the Small Catechism, worshipping, and having fun at camp. For more information, check out the camp website at https://harrisburgconfirmationcamp.org/
Multi-Congregation Events
It is great for youth to experience the larger church as well as their own congregation. Our youth gather with other youth groups for events several times a year, including the youth group kick off "Day 'O Games" and the annual winter Mega Retreat. Trindle Spring Lutheran youth also attend the annual Lower Susquehanna Synod Events ("Alive" for Grades 6-8 and "Winterfest" for Grades 9-12), and the triennial ELCA National Youth Gathering.
Elementary Youth Group
The Elementary Youth Group meets once a month for lunch, activities, and Faith Formation. Friends and guests are always welcome to join us.
Middle/High School Youth Group
The Middle/High School Youth group gathers at once a month at the church to enjoy dinner together followed by team building, devotions, games, and faith formation activities. They generally have a second event each month outside the church. This might be a fellowship event like bowling or ice skating, a service project, or a retreat. Guests are always welcome.
Harrisburg Area Confirmation Camp
Each summer we join with other congregations from around the region for a week at Camp Nawakwa. Confirmation Camp is for youth in 6th - 11th grade. We spend the week exploring scripture, the Small Catechism, worshipping, and having fun at camp. For more information, check out the camp website at https://harrisburgconfirmationcamp.org/
Multi-Congregation Events
It is great for youth to experience the larger church as well as their own congregation. Our youth gather with other youth groups for events several times a year, including the youth group kick off "Day 'O Games" and the annual winter Mega Retreat. Trindle Spring Lutheran youth also attend the annual Lower Susquehanna Synod Events ("Alive" for Grades 6-8 and "Winterfest" for Grades 9-12), and the triennial ELCA National Youth Gathering.
Winterfest 2026
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From January 2-4, 2026, several TSLC youth and leaders joined with youth and adults from around the Lower Susquehanna Synod for Winterfest, the annual synod retreat for youth in Grades 9-12. Through worship, speakers, small group discussions, workshops, service projects, and a lot of fun, all those gathered had the opportunity to explore their faith, ponder big questions, and deep their relationship with God. The theme for this year's retreat was "Better Together." Participants talked about what it means that we are built for community, and we are more fully who God created us to be when we live in community with other believers. This theme was taken from Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” |
During the weekend, all participants worked together on a service project for the non-profit Rise Against Hunger. When they were finished, they had packed 30,000 meals in just 55 minutes! This experience really made an impression on our youth. Here are some reflections from event:
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"I really enjoyed t the meal packing because we got to put into practice so much of what we learn about helping others. We got to actually do something good to help those who most need it."
- Thomas B., Grade 12 "I always love meal packing. At first it's repetitive, but as soon as we get into a rhythm and get down the order, whether you are working with people you know or not you become a cohesive group. You form new relationships, pick on each other in a good way, and have fun while helping others." - Jenna Gordon, Young Adult |
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"I really enjoyed getting to do meal packing again. I've done it in the past and it's always been a very enjoyable thing that has a large impact on the community. It's always amazing to see how may people we can feed in such a short amount of time. But it is also devastating how many people in our world go without food. This is just one way we can help." - Carly Gordon, Grade 11 |